Slip Cover Success

Post by Gloria Erickson.

Customer Success Story

From Michele
Originally uploaded by studiocherie

I get some really nice messages from the women I have helped to sew something they wanted. Rarely these messages come with photos. I want to start sharing those here. I am just tickled for Michele, who was able to achieve a $1400 dining room makeover for $250. Here is her message to me:
Hi Cherie,
I just wanted to say thank you so much for putting together this tutorial! The directions on how to sew the pieces together was a bit confusing to me, as this was my first real sewing project since Home Ec in middle school (more than 20 years ago). But, the pattern technique was spot on! I purchased 6 upholstered parsons chairs from a church yard sale for $50 and used about $200 (big risk!) in fabric. I would have had to have paid at least $200 a piece for similar chairs with custom fabric. I attached pics so you could see the before and after. Thank you for encouraging sewing newbies to give it a try!

Michele, I love your new dining chairs. Notice the trim she added to her curtains to coordinate - beautiful touch. Congratulations. I hope this is the first sewing success of many for you. Thanks so much for taking the time to share your results.

New bags on new chairs

New bags on new chairs
Originally uploaded by studiocherie

Yes, I have been sewing and writing my brains out. 6 slipcovers for my own kitchen chairs from my tutorial - although these took 1.5 yards each so they must be 1.5 yard wonders. Releasing the pattern for this bag this week for sure - almost there. Squeezed in a sewing lesson for Gabrielle too. She made her own sunglasses case from my pattern. I have to say that is a really great pattern for beginners or anyone who wants to make a cool case. Which reminds me...my Simplicity pattern is out. Look at the first page of accessories in the Spring catalog - that's me. If you want to make them like I do though, you need the PDF version. That is all I am going to say about that.
The thing about making new slipcovers is now I need a new table cloth and napkins and new curtains and a new rug - oops! Not to mention new table ware. Where is my fairygodmother when I need her? Opinions please: I have 2 of each of these chairs around my table, white tablecloth would be gorgeous but impractical for my messy eaters. Maybe I need to have a look at the Free Spirit laminates. I wonder if there is one that would pull these together nicely?

Aircraft Carrier Part One

to brighten my family room
Originally uploaded by studiocherie

If you saw Cabin Fever Decorating, you saw the aircraft carrier. I called it "this boring couch." I think StitchinDye's pillow pictured in that post (which sold immediately by the way) was better than mine, but I am using up my scraps for this project, and had to work with what was on hand. Also she used 16 circles, and I am not that ambitious. The aircraft carrier has 9 pillows in back. There is no way I will have the entire couch done in time for the contest at apartment therapy, but they did get me motivated to start. I've left it around and Rory has not said anything about it. I think that means he's going to absolutely freak out when he comes home one fine summer day to find the entire aircraft carrier transformed into a bohemian love boat. Let's see if I can find some artwork equal to the pillow...

How to Sew a Slip Cover

As soon as I finish this posting, I will be officially listing my tea party chair slip cover pattern for sale in my shop. This pattern is made specifically to cover the IKEA AGEN child's wicker chair. I also have one of their plastic chairs called NYFIKEN, so that pattern will be coming out shortly.

I am excited about my new packaging- everything stuffed (neatly) into a printed white envelope.

If you don't mind leaving a comment here, I would love to know what kind of chair you would like to see me cover and make a pattern for you to copy.